6 Classrooms To Get New Air Processors

July 15, 1998|By Meg Tebo.

ST. CHARLES — The air quality in six St. Charles High School classrooms is poor enough to require $100,000 in emergency repairs, according to a resolution approved Monday night by the School District 303 Board.

The measure will allow administrators to forgo the usual bid process and contract with a company that will install self-contained heating, air conditioning and ventilating units in six classrooms in the building's Dunham Wing.

Kathy Villwock, a member of the district's Air Quality Task Force, said, "They have known for five years, through numerous studies, that there has been inadequate air down there. I'm glad they are finally making some accommodations."

The work is being recommended by Grumman/Butkus Associates, an environmental air-quality firm hired by the board to review all of the high school's air-handling systems in the wake of complaints of airborne illnesses from students and staff.

In March, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, a federal agency, assessed the school and found numerous areas of poor air circulation, as well as mold and mildew from water infiltration.

"This measure is a very small part of the overall remediation program we will need to do," said Supt. Fran Kostel.

Keith Strutz, the district's facilities manager, said that the work, which will be completed by the start of the school year in August, eventually will be integrated into the overall plans for renovation of the building's air-handling systems.

"This is not the ideal solution, but because we need to use those classrooms this fall, it's something we definitely need to do," said Strutz.